Day Hiking

Day Hiking Areas

• Aspen-Sopris Ranger District

  Aspen-Sopris

  Aspen-Sopris Ranger District manages five Wilderness areas and the spectacular Maroon Bells Scenic Area. The historic Crystal Mill, Ashcroft ghost town, and the small mining town of Marble are all nearby.

• Aspen Area

  The Aspen area is known for its beautiful peaks over 14,000 feet and majestic wilderness experiences. It's home to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, one of the most iconic areas in Colorado. 

• American Lake TH #1985
• Aspen to Crested Butte via East Maroon TH #1983
• Aspen to Crested Butte via West Maroon TH #1970
• Buckskin Pass Trailhead #1975
• Capitol Ditch Trailhead #1963
• Cathedral Lake Trailhead #1984
• Conundrum Creek TH #1981
• Difficult Campground and Group Campground
• Difficult Creek TH #2196
• Discovery Trailhead #1997/Braille Trailhead #1995
• East Maroon Trailhead #1983
• East Snowmass TH #1977
• Government TH #1980
• Grottos Day Use #2180
• Hunter Creek TH #2194
• Hunter Valley TH #1992
• Linkins Lake TH #1979
• Lost Man #1996
• Lost Man Campground
• Maroon Bells Scenic Area
• Maroon Lake Scenic Trailhead, #2197
• Maroon-Snowmass Trailhead, #1975
• Maroon/Snowmass - Crater Lake TH #1975
• Midway #1993
• New York Creek TH #2182
• Petroleum/Anderson Lake #1991
• Portal Campground
• Silver Bar Campground
• Silver Bell Campground
• Silver Queen Campground
• Sunnyside TH #1987
• Trails in Aspen area
• Weller Lake TH #1989
• West Maroon #1970
• West Snowmass #2187
• Willow Lake #1978
• Basalt Area

  The Basalt area includes the popular Fryingpan River Valley.

• Aspen-Norrie TH #1927
• Chapman Lake #1923
• Henderson Park TH #1972
• Lyle/Morman Lake TH #1919
• Miller Divide #1930
• Rocky Fork TH #1931
• Ruedi Overlook #1912
• Savage Lakes #1918
• South Fork Fryingpan #1922
• Carbondale Area
  
  
• Avalanche Creek TH #1959
• Dexter Park #1953
• Hay Park TH #1957
• Lake Ridge Lakes #2093
• Middle Thompson #1950
• Perham Creek TH #1949
• Red Table TH #1909
• Redstone Campground
• Thomas Lakes #1958
• El Jebel Area
  
  
• Basalt Mountain #1911
• Cattle Creek #1909
• Marble Area
  
  
• Anthracite Pass TH #1969
• Bogan Flats Campground
• Bogan Flats Group Campground
• Carbonate Creek TH #1971
• Yule Pass TH #2083
• Hay Park TH #19571
• Redstone Area

  Redstone Area

• Braderich Creek #1952
• Braderich-South Thompson #2093
• Placita #1966
• Blanco Ranger District (East of Meeker, CO)

  Blanco RD

  The Blanco Ranger District offers an abundance of well-marked trailheads for access to backcountry and the historic Flat Tops Wilderness

• Flat Tops NW

  Flat Tops NW covers the southeastern part of the Blanco Ranger District (including most of the Flat Tops Wilderness) from Ripple Creek Pass to Rio Blanco County Road 10.

• Anderson Reservoir #2260
• Big Fish TH #1819
• Carhart #1815
• Cliff Lake #1831
• Doe Creek Ridge #2269
• East Marvine TH #1822
• Fowler Creek #2254
• Hill Creek #2255
• Himes Peak #1877
• Lake Of The Woods #2263
• Lily Pond / Picket Pin #1811
• Little Trappers #1814
• Marvine #1823
• McGinnis #2213
• Mirror Lake #1821
• Oyster Lake Trailhead #1825
• Papoose Creek #2248
• Peltier Lake #1826
• Shingle Lake
• Skinny Fish #1813
• South Fork #1827
• Spring Cave TH #1834
• Trappers Lake
• Trappers Lake #1816 (Blanco)
• Ute Creek #1824
• Wall Lake #1818
• West Marvine #1888
• Meeker Area

  This includes areas south and east of Meeker, outside of the Flat Tops Wilderness.

• East Miller #2202
• Long Park #1809
• Lost Creek #1808
• Morapos Trailhead
• North Elk TH #1835
• Snell Creek Trailhead #1810
• Three Points #2207
• Wilson Mesa/Sleepy Cat Peak #1800
• Yellowhorse #2288
• Dillon Ranger District

  Dillon RD

  Located in beautiful Summit County Colorado, the Dillon Ranger District is home to four world-class ski resorts, seven Nordic centers, the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area, the Continental Divide National Monument, and multitudes of scenic opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and solitude. 

   

• Breckenridge Area

  Breckenridge area

• Bakers Tank Trailhead #40
• Boreas Pass Road TH #10
• Burro #80
• Crystal Lakes Road TH #44
• French Gulch #2
• Gold Hill TH #79
• Indiana Creek Road TH #593
• McCullough Gulch TH #43
• Pennsylvania Creek Road TH #611
• Quandary Peak TH #47
• Spruce Creek (Mohawk Lakes) #58
• Wheeler National Recreation TH #39
• Frisco Area
  
  
• Copper Mountain Ski Resort
• Corral Creek #41
• Dickey Day Use Area
• Gore Range TH #60
• Mayflower Gulch TH #1178
• Meadow Creek TH #33
• Miner's Creek Road TH #1000
• Miners Creek TH #38
• Mount Royal/Masontown TH #1
• North Tenmile TH #37
• Old Dillon Reservoir TH #87
• Peaks TH #45
• Sapphire Point Overlook
• Summit County Rec Path
• Wheeler Lakes -Gore Range TH #60
• Wilder Gulch TH #75
• Green Mountain/Heeney Area

  Green Mountain Reservoir lies at the northern end of Summit County, Colorado along the Blue River near the town of Heeney. There are 6 campgrounds at the reservoir and a 7th campground is located along Cataract Creek adjacent to Eagles Nest Wilderness and various hiking trails.

  The reservoir has boat-launch facilities and is a popular spot for motor boating, sailing, canoeing, and water skiing. Fishing is also primary recreational activity at the reservoir. Primary sport fish available are brown trout, rainbow trout, and salmon.

  This area is bear country! Storage of food, garbage and bear attractants is required. Wilderness regulations apply in Eagles Nest Wilderness.

• Brush Creek TH #68
• Eaglesmere TH #61
• Elliot's Ridge TH #1889
• Lost Lake #64
• Lower Cataract Lake Loop TH #57
• Surprise Lake Trailhead #62
• Upper Cataract Lake TH #63
• Keystone Area

  Keystone area

• Argentine Pass TH #77
• Chihuahua Lake TH #78
• Deer Creek Road TH #5
• Hunkidori Mine TH #276
• Keystone Gulch Road TH #175
• Lenawee TH #34
• Peru Creek Road TH #260
• Saints John Road TH #275
• Windy Point TH #9130
• Silverthorne Area

  Silverthorne Area

• Acorn Creek TH #71
• Buffalo Cabin/Buffalo Mountain TH #31
• Lily Pad Lake TH #50
• Lower Boulder Lake Trail #59
• Lower/Upper Slate Lakes TH #65
• Mesa Cortina TH #32/South Willow Falls
• North Rock Creek #46
• Ptarmigan Peak TH #35
• Straight Creek TH #48
• Tenderfoot TH #76
• Upper Willow Lakes/Salmon Lake TH #36
• Ute Pass/Peak TH #24
• Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District (Vail-Eagle area)

  Eagle-Holy Cross

  The Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District lies between the Gore Range, the Sawatch Range, and the Flat Tops, and includes the forest areas surrounding the towns of Vail, Avon, Red Cliff, Eagle, Gypsum, and Dotsero.
  Recreation opportunities abound!

• Eagle Area

  The area south of the town of Eagle and I-70, accessed primarily by Brush Creek Road. This area is part of the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District.

• Antones #1871
• Brown's Loop TH #1874
• Fulford Cave Campground
• Fulford Cave TH #1875
• Ironedge TH #1873
• Lake Charles TH #1899
• Lost Lake TH #2224
• Mckenzie Gulch TH #1869
• Mount Thomas TH #1870
• New York Lake TH #2221
• New York Mountain TH #1876
• Nolan Lake TH #1898
• Salt Creek TH #1878
• Sneve Gulch TH #1872
• Sundell #1863
• Yeoman Park Campground
• Yeoman Park Day Use Area
• Yeoman Park Discovery Trailhead
• SE Flat Tops Area

  The SE Flat Tops Area is north of Dotsero and I-70, and is primarily accessed by Forest Service Roads heading northwest off of the Colorado River Road between Dotsero and Burns. This area is part of the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District.

• Cross Creek TH #1855
• Grizzly Creek TH #2065
• Hanging Lake TH #1850
• Hooper Lake TH #1860
• Island Lakes TH #1842
• Nellie's TH #1839
• Prospect #1867
• Rim Lake TH #1856
• Shingle Peak TH #2042
• Sweetwater Lake Campground
• Sweetwater Lake Day Use Area
• Sweetwater TH #1854
• Trappers Lake #1816 (Eagle/Holy Cross)
• Turret Creek TH #1832
• Ute - Sweetwater #2032
• W. Mountain TH #1817
• Wagon Wheel TH #2049
• Vail Area

  The eastern portion of the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District surrounding the towns of Vail, Avon, and Redcliff, including the east side of the Holy Cross Wilderness and the west side of the Eagles Nest Wilderness.

• Beaver Creek Ski Resort
• Beaver Lake Trailhead #2109
• Bighorn TH #2013
• Booth Lake #2011
• Bowman's Shortcut TH #1851
• Buck Creek #2106
• Buffehr Creek TH #787
• Camp Hale East Fork Group Campground
• Camp Hale Memorial Campground
• Camp Hale National Historic Site
• Colorado Trail #2108
• Colorow Trail #1897
• Cross Creek TH #2006
• Dead Dog TH #2220
• Deluge Lake TH #2014
• East Lake Creek TH #1880
• East Meadow Creek #1886
• Fall Creek TH #2001
• Fancy Creek TH #2006
• Gold Park Campground
• Gore Creek Campground
• Gore Creek TH #2015
• Gore Lake #2015.1A
• Grouse Lake TH #2127
• Grouse Mountain TH #2010
• Halfmoon Campground
• Holy Cross City Jeep Road TH #759
• Lonesome Lake TH #2126
• Lost Lake TH #1893
• Lower Piney #1885
• Martin Creek TH #2128
• Meadow Creek TH #1891
• Meadow Mountain TH #2124
• Meadow Mt. Tie Thru
• Missouri Lakes TH #2033
• Mount of the Holy Cross TH #2009
• North Vail TH #1896
• Notch Mountain TH #2000
• Paulie's Plunge / Stone Creek TH #2349
• Piney Guard Station
• Pitkin TH #2012
• Shrine Ridge TH #2016
• Soda Lakes #1889
• Son Of Middle Creek #2136
• Turquoise Lake / Beaver Lake TH #2109
• Two Elk TH #2005
• Upper Piney TH #1885
• Vail Pass/Tenmile Canyon National Recreation
• Vail Ski Resort
• West Grouse Creek TH #2129
• Whitney Lake TH #2002
• Rifle Ranger District

  Rifle RD

  The Rifle Ranger District has rich cultural history and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. The district is near the Flat Tops Wilderness which offers opportunities for solitude.

  This area has many OHV roads and trails with sites for dispersed camping. Bring a picnic or plan to hunt, fish, mountain bike or ride horses in warmer months, then cross-country ski, snowshoe or snowmobile in winter.

• Battlement Mesa Area

  The Battlement Mesa area is located south of Interstate 70 and shares its southern border with the Grand Mesa National Forest. The Battlement Mesa area can be accessed from Rifle, CO and Parachute/Battlement Mesa, CO. Elevations range from around 8,000 feet to above 11,000 feet. Key attractions include the Battlement Reservoirs, Cache Creek, and the Mamm Peaks. This is also a good location for big game hunting. There are several system trails and ample dispersed camping opportunities, but there are no developed sites, restrooms, or drinking water facilities. Activity in the area is typically low outside of hunting season, creating an outstanding opportunity for solitude. 

  The Battlement Reservoirs (on the west side of the Mesa) are a chain of seven scenic, manmade lakes originally constructed in the late 19th Century. Outstanding fishing and dispersed camping is available in this location. The Battlement Trail #2160 crosses the entire length of the Battlement Mesa area and continues east toward West Divide. It is possible to scramble to the tops of the Mamm Peaks, though this requires cross-country travel. 

  Several trails in this area cross through private land. Please respect private property owners by staying on the trails and refraining from littering. 

• Battlement #2160 (West)
• Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
• Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
• Battlement Trailhead
• East & West Divide Creek Area

  Access West Divide via County Road 331 and East Divide via County Road 313. Both out of Silt

• Cayton Gulch TH #2162
• Cayton Trailhead
• Lake Fork #2172
• Glenwood Springs Area

  Glenwood Springs is a good starting point for excursions into the southeastern Flat Tops, Glenwood Canyon, and the Roaring Fork Valley. From Glenwood Springs, users can access miles of motorized and non-motorized trails, all of which lead into rugged and scenic parts of the White River National Forest. Nearby attractions include Grizzly and No Name Creek Canyons, the Transfer Trail OHV/4WD route, Mitchell Creek Trail, the Fourmile Park area, and Sunlight Mountain Resort.

  The Glenwood Springs area includes trails that are open to foot, horse, bicycle, and motorized use (check travel rules on individual trails before heading out). This area features numerous creeks and lakes, many of which provide good fishing opportunities. During the winter months, this area is a great place for snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Other recreation opportunities include dispersed camping, big game hunting, and wildlife viewing. 

  All services, including food, gas, and lodging, are available in Glenwood Springs. Visit the Sunlight Ski Area page to learn more about alpine skiing opportunities on the neighboring Aspen-Sopris Ranger District.

• Beaver Creek #2092
• Jessie Weaver TH #1847
• Mitchell Creek #1845
• No Name Trailhead
• New Castle Area

  The town of New Castle is located along I-70 between Rifle and Glenwood Springs, CO. From here, it is a short drive north to Clinetop Mesa, Main Elk Creek, and East Elk Creek. This area includes several motorized and non-motorized trails, including Centennial (East Elk) Trail, Spring Creek Trail, Hadley Gulch Trail, and Clinetop Road. During the winter, Clinetop Road is groomed for snowmobiling (as snow conditions allow) and the area’s non-motorized trails are great for snowshoeing.

  The New Castle area also provides excellent opportunities for big game hunting, dispersed camping, fly fishing, and climbing.

  All services, including food, gas, and lodging, are available in New Castle, CO.

• Boiler Creek #1843
• Centennial (East Elk) Trailhead
• Clinetop (Main Elk) Trailhead
• East Elk Creek #1841
• Hadley Gulch #1840
• Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
• Main Elk #2157
• Spring Creek #2068
• Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
• Rifle Area

  The Rifle area includes several attractions within a 30 to 45 minute drive of the City of Rifle. To the north of I-70, visitors can spend the afternoon at the Spruce Picnic Area, take a hike on the Three Forks Trail. This area also provides access to Coulter Mesa, which features miles of motorized routes through aspen stands and open meadows. 

  To the south of I-70, visitors can explore the Beaver Creek Trail, the Mamm Creek Drainage, and the eastern part of the Battlement Mesa. Good hunting and dispersed camping opportunities are available on both sides of I-70.

  All services, including food, gas, and lodging, are available in the City of Rifle.

  Access roads into this part of the Forest are typically suitable for all highway legal passenger vehicles. The major exception is Little Box Road (FR-825) northeast of Coulter Lake, which should only be attempted by high-clearance vehicles. Please refer to the Rifle Ranger District’s summer and winter Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) for detailed information on motorized access routes. MVUM s are available for free at the Rifle Ranger District office.

• Battlement #2160 (East)
• Beaver Creek Trailhead
• Lower Three Forks Trailhead
• Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
• Three Forks #2150
• Upper Three Forks #2150
• West Mamm Trailhead
• SW/Central Flat Tops Area

  Southwest and central Flat Tops area.  Access often from New Castle.

• Bison Lake Road #640.1
• Blair Lake #2048
• Blair Mountain TH #601.1
• Blair Overlook TH #601.2E
• Bowen Lake #631.1
• Buford-New Castle Parallel OHV #2290
• Buford-New Castle Road (Forest Road-245)
• Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
• Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
• Cherry Creek Connector #2256.1A
• Cherry Creek Trail #2256
• Cherry Creek Trail C
• Cherry Creek Trail D
• Clark Ridge #2158.1B
• Cliff Lakes Road #601.4E
• Cliff Lakes Trailhead
• Corral Point Road #649.1
• Crater Trailhead
• Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
• Keyser Creek Road #637.1
• Lower Cherry Creek Trailhead
• Mansfield Ditch #2291
• Patterson Creek Trailhead
• Ute Lake #2162
• Ute Trailhead
• West Elk Stock Driveway #2152
• Wilderness Areas

  With the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, Congress created the National Wilderness Preservation System. Wilderness areas are managed to preserve their natural conditions and wild character for present and future generations. They possess outstanding ecological, geological, scientific, educational, scenic, or historic values.

  Please view the special regulations associated with each Wilderness Area and always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep these areas wild, clean, and pristine.

  There are 8 Wilderness Areas within White River National Forest. These areas include:

  • Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
  • Eagles Nest Wilderness
  • Flat Tops Wilderness
  • Holy Cross Wilderness
  • Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness
  • Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
  • Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness
  • Raggeds Wilderness

   

• Collegiate Peaks Wilderness - White River
• Eagles Nest Wilderness
• Flat Tops Wilderness- White River
• Holy Cross Wilderness - White River
• Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness - White River
• Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
• Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness
• Raggeds Wilderness - White River